Surname MacTear - Meaning and Origin
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MacTear: What does the surname MacTear mean?
The surname MacTear is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic Mac an Téigh ("son of the house" or "son of the homestead"). The surname is found in Scotland, particularly in the western Highlands, where its name is the Anglicized version of the Gaelic Mac an Téigh. It is also found in Ireland, where the original name MacTér is still used in some areas.
The surname is derived from a local chieftain of the area, who was known as Mac an Téigh. The name literally translates to "son of the house." It probably referred to the head of a local family or clan, and the name was eventually used to refer to all the descendants of the original chieftain, as well as to anyone from the same area.
The MacTear surname is believed to have been in use since at least the 15th century. During the Highland Clearances of the 18th and 19th centuries, many members of the MacTear clan were forced to emigrate to other parts of Scotland, England, Ireland, and even the United States and Canada.
Today, the MacTear surname is common in all of these countries and is often found in various spellings, including MacTear, MacTier, and MacTir. The MacTear family is a proud part of Scotland's history and has been for centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisMacTear: Where does the name MacTear come from?
The last name MacTear is most commonly found in countries such as Scotland and Ireland which have a strong Celtic influence. In Scotland, the last name MacTear can be found in the northern regions of the country, particularly around the major cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. This is likely due to the affirmation of Scottish identity since the Act of Union which unified Scotland and England in 1707.
In Ireland, MacTear is found throughout the country, but especially the counties of Dublin, Wicklow, Galway, Longford, and Donegal, which all share a strong Gaelic and Celtic heritage. This is largely because the Irish experienced considerable oppression throughout the 18th and 19th centuries which prompted many people to assert their Celtic identity.
The last name MacTear is also found in pockets of Canada, particularly British Columbia, which saw significant immigration from Scotland and Ireland in the 19th and early 20th centuries. There are also scattered MacTear families found in the United States, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest of the country where there are larger populations of Irish and Scottish immigrants.
Today, the last name MacTear remains a common one for those who are proud of their Celtic heritage, whether they are from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the United States, or elsewhere.
Variations of the surname MacTear
The surname MacTear is a Gaelic surname meaning son of Tear. Variants of this surname include MacTair, MacTire, MacTirey, MacTeer, MacTireir, and MacTer.
MacTear may also be spelled as MacTier, MacTierney, MacTyre, Mac Tyre, and MacTyreir. Surnames of like origin are MacTavaish, MacTavish, and McKevish.
MacTear is a very old name whose ancient origin is linked to the Irish mythological figure Tear. It was very common in Argyll, Scotland, and Ulster.
During the course of history, as Scotland and Ireland became more interconnected through trade, war, and intermarriage between communities, variants of the surname MacTear began to be adopted.
The spelling of derivatives of the name MacTear often vary from region to region. For example, throughout Scotland, MacTire is often shortened to Tier, resulting in surnames such as McTier or Tierney. Likewise, in Ireland, MacTear is sometimes extended to include MacBrien, MacTeary, or MacGinnis.
Although the spelling of the surname may differ, all the variants of MacTear are linked to the same origin story and are of ancient Irish and Scottish origin.
Famous people with the name MacTear
- John MacTear, a singer, songwriter, composer, and producer from Scotland.
- Heather MacTear, a businesswoman from Scotland who was a director at the Scottish Council for Development and Industry.
- Gordon MacTear, a Canadian who is currently Executive Editor at The King’s University.
- Stephen MacTear, a minister with the Church of Scotland.
- Carol MacTear, a professor and author of several books on Scottish literature and culture.
- Ronald MacTear, a Scottish landscape artist who was known for his depictions of rural scenes.
- Martin MacTear, a Scottish medical doctor and past president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
- Alexander MacTear, an Australian financial executive and founding chairman of MacTear Global Investments.
- Admiral Iain MacTear, a Commander of the British Royal Navy who served in the 2000s and 2010s.
- Sam MacTear, an American television director who has worked on shows such as Survivor and The Voice.